David, you have to learn moderation!” I’ve heard this with frequency throughout my life. I have been told by good Christian mentors that we should be moderate in all things. It must be written in the Bible somewhere, isn’t it?
Well, actually it isn’t. While moderation in all things is a very noble thought, it is not necessarily a Christian one. The expression, “be moderate in all things” is attributed to the ancients of Greek philosophy. For them, moderation was a gift from heaven, one of the highest virtues. If one could achieve moderation, then they could rise to self – control. The Greek word connotes a picture of a free human being, uncontrolled by another. A noble thought perhaps but not a strictly Christian one.
“Moderation in all things” is actually a recipe for mediocrity, while God is anything but mediocre. And so it should be for God’s people. God is extraordinary and extreme in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self – control. God is extravagant from creation to the cross. All of heaven breaks into a party when one sinner repents. God is zealous in His love. God’s grace is amazing.
In this context of extravagance, moderation or self – control is better understood as discernment, choosing certain behaviours over others and nurturing certain virtues extravagantly in contrast to others.
There are many things I want to do. But there are some things I should not do because they are harmful—to me or to others. My own impulses and desires do not always lead me to the best choices. That is part of the context in which the fruits of the Spirit are presented in the letter to the Galatians.
The other part has to do with a different kind of self – control. The individualism both around us and within the church can be isolating and destructive. In the Galatians letter on self – control, discerning choices are focused on an equal balance between what is spiritually healthy for the individual and what is spiritually healthy for who we are together as the body of Christ. The fruits of the Spirit are ways of nurturing, enhancing and protecting the relationships we were created to have.
We see this self – control exercised by Jesus: “not my will, Father, but thine be done.” Neither the Father nor the Son nor the Holy Spirit ever do anything as if one is the only one. In Jesus’ 40 days and 40 nights of fasting in the desert, one of the common threads of the temptations is the distraction for him to think or act as if he is the only one. From the beginning, within the existence of God, there is community and a careful balance between the individual and the community.
During this late – winter season of attempted self – control through exercise rooms and diets, and now entering the season of Lent with all its disciplines, it is worthwhile remembering the nature of virtues like self – control. However, we are encouraged to grow in godliness not only through discipline, but—and perhaps more importantly—by immersing ourselves in the extravagance of God’s love and grace.
It is as we immerse ourselves in God’s extravagance of good toward us, and as we delight in the fellowship that evolves when we nurture the fruits of the Spirit in our relationships that we naturally lessen our taste for those things that would destroy us individually and as a church.
Some things are better for us and for all. There is a fellowship that lives in eternity and we are invited to share in its joy.
